Support for rocket launchers



Oct. 7, 1947. A. RICHARDS I SUPPORT FOR ROCKET LAUNCHERS Filed Jan. 24, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 LORENZO A. RICHARDS /fl d/f Oct. 7, 1947. A. RICHARDS SUPPORT FOR ROCKET LAUNCHERS Filed Jan. 24, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwuowk LORENZO A. RICHARDS Patented Oct. 7, 1947 SUPPORT FOR ROCKET LAUNCHERS Lorenzo A. Richards, Riverside, Calif., assignor to United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Application January 24, 1946, Serial No. 643,125

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a trainable item of ordnance and more particularly to locking devices for locking such items in train.

An object of this invention is to provide a trainable item of ordnance having means for locking the item in a plurality of positions in train, and in which said locking means is readily operable to release the item for movement to other train positions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a locking device for retaining a rocket launcher in a firing position and which is readily operable to permit movement of the launcher to a loading position in which the device is operable to retain the launcher during loading.

Another object of the invention is to provide a locking device of the type referred to above which is operable by foot, leaving both hands of the operator free to manipulate the launcher.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the rocket launcher showing a rocket in firing position in dotted lines; and

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the rocket launcher.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the rocket launcher includes a pedestal I which is adapted to be fastened to the side of a ship by means of a bottom bracket 2, a deck bracket 3 and a brace 4. The upper end of the pedestal I journals a sleeve 5 about a vertical axis. The sleeve 5 in turn supports a laterally extending rocket launcher supporting structure 6. The structure 6 carries a plurality of launcher rails 1 adapted to support rockets Ia and is equipped with means for tilting the launcher rails about a horizontal axis and locking the rails in Various elevational positions. A handle 8 is provided for this purpose.

The lower end of the sleeve 5 is provided with two pairs of diametrically disposed notches 9 and I0 arranged in right angular relation. Either pair of these notches is adapted to seat over a cross pin II carried by the pedestal I and extending radially therefrom. Below the cross pin II the pedestal I is provided with a sliding collar I2 having a clearance recess I3 in its upper side. The recess I 3 is of sufiicient depth to accommodate pin II on upward movement of the collar l2 to move the notches in sleeve 5 clear of the pin.

The collar I2 is movable upwardly by yoke arm I 4 of a lever I5 which is pivoted about a fulcrum pin I6 carried by the pedestal I. The other arm of the lever I5 extends downwardly and inboard of the pedestal I and is provided with a pedal l1 adapted to be engaged by the operators foot.

In operation, the launcher rails I are moved to their outboard or firing position or swung to an inboard or loading position merely by pressing down on the foot pedal sufficiently to raise the sleeve 5 clear of the cross pin I I and grasping the launcher rails to swing them about the axis of the sleeve 5. Once the pair of notches 9 or I 0 clears the pin II, the foot pedal may be released and the launcher moved until the neXt pair of notches registers with and engages the pin I I. Inasmuch as two sets of notches are provided, the launcher may be locked in four positions apart, one of which constitutes the firing position.

While the device disclosed herein is a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A trainable item of ordnance comprising a vertical supporting post, a sleeve loosely mounted on said post and carrying a trainable member, said sleeve having a plurality of notches on its lower end, a pin carried by said post for cooperating with said notches to lock said sleeve against rotation, a collar loosely mounted on said post adjacent the lower end of said sleeve and having a notch of greater depth than the diameter of said pin, and a lever pivoted to said post and bearing against said collar, whereby actuation of said lever frees said sleeve for movement in train by moving said collar and said sleeve to move the notches of said sleeve clear of said pin.

2. A rocket launcher for shipboard use comprising a vertical supporting post adapted for mounting on a ships deck, a sleeve rotatably mounted on the upper end of said post, a rocket launcher rail attached to said sleeve and having an outboard firing position and an inboard loading position, said sleeve having a plurality of notches in its lower end, a transverse pin carried by said post and cooperating with said notches to 3 lock said sleeve against movement in train, a collar loosely mounted on said post adjacent the lower end of said sleeve and having a notch 00- operating with said pin, said notch being of sufficient depth to permit upward movement of said collar sufficiently to move the notches in said sleeve clear of said pin, and a foot operated lever pivoted to said post and bearing against said 001- lar, whereby operation of said lever raises said collar and said sleeve to free said sleeve and launcher rails for movement between said loading and said firing positions.

LORENZO A. RICHARDS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 206,897 Ralston Aug. 13, 1878 799,429 Wonders Sept. 12, 1905 1,188,951 Lacerda June 2'7, 1916 10 1,217,540 Wappat Feb. 27, 1917 FOREIGN PATENTS N mber Country Date 17,996 Great Britain s- 1887 

